connecting with people vs talking at people

Do you know someone using social media who just doesn’t get the “social” part of it? Every post is a one-way ad that says “Buy from me” or “call me”. Yep, we all know those folks, and it’s a turn-off, isn’t it? That’s why this post is important.

If you’re in real estate, here are some tips for how to use Twitter in a way that connects with others, builds trust and avoids that “spammy real estate person” vibe. The five RE pros below from the Sacramento / Placer area have a good grasp of how to use Twitter effectively. I highly recommend following them to get to know them and watch how they work their magic. There is of course no one formula to follow, but here are some nuggets for your consideration:

1) Find and follow local tweeters. 2) Attend or coordinate a local tweet up so you have the opportunity to meet people face to face now and then. 3) Re-tweet interesting and useful information. 4) Never make it all about you—focus on other people and their tweets and accomplishments. 5) Keep your tweets 90% fun and informative and about 10% promotional, and even then, have fun with it.

My approach to Twitter is more a reflection of my personality: I like to make people laugh, interact with others and take care of my local community by spreading their news and needs – I am lucky to have a medium-sized twitter following to push knowledge to a larger audience – locally and nationally. At 5100+ followers – I’m no Real Estate Lady Gaga, but I do have a “Good Romance” with Twitter.

Real estate-related items are only a small percentage of my tweets (probably 10-20%) – the reality is, in my opinion, who wants to read about listings or blog posts constantly? Tweeting just listings and blog posts is “twitter cave yelling” in my opinion and it’s a turn-off and comes off quite spammarific.

In my Twitter experience, I feel that when I do a mixture of business and personal tweets, people are more interested. I also tend to tweet questions or statements that people feel very inclined to retweet or answer. Sometimes those tweets can be controversial – if you will. I like to tweet about politics, current events, mortgage news, etc. When you have tweets that people can respond to, or that strike a nerve, you get more Twitter action- in that people will follow you to see what you are doing. I also like to retweet things that I find helpful. Re-tweeting gets you more followers, as the original person who tweeted can see the retweet and may want to know about you.

Twitter is a great way to connect with people if you use it right. It’s all about engaging with others to create a personal connection. Look for ways to engage in conversations with other tweeps. This is the only way you will ever connect with people you do not know very well. And be sincere!

Talk about more than just real estate. Be interesting and mix it up! Talk about the things that interest you outside of work. No one wants to follow someone who is one-dimensional. Don’t do tweet blasts to hard sell people all the time. People that do this seem like used car salesman and it can be annoying. If I see too much of this from someone, I will “unfollow” them.

Always respond to a tweet if your name is mentioned, whether it be a direct message or mention. Whether it’s to thank someone for a RT/mention, or to respond to someone who sent you a message. Not responding to a mention or direct message is like not responding to voice mail or email.

What should you tweet about? If you closed a tough deal, landed a new client, had a bad day, or tried a new restaurant, share it with your followers. You will find that your followers are genuinely interested in what you have to tweet and will retweet your content especially if it provides value to their audience.

Who Should You Follow? Search twitter for the industry professionals you rely on day in and day out to help you achieve your goals. It is the same sphere of influence you use outside of social media. Research appraisers, attorneys, bankers, CPA’s, contractors, government agencies, home and pest inspectors, home improvement, home stagers, insurance companies, lenders, locksmiths, plumbers, professional organizations, real estate brokers and agents, title and escrow reps, transaction coordinators, website developers and SEO experts, the list goes on and on.

Not every tweet has to be that profound piece of knowledge, the nugget of wisdom, the Aha moment of tweets. And not everyone will follow you back. It’s OK. Remember you get 140 characters so be creative, shorten words and links, include photos, keep it clean and every once in a while have fun.

I recommend keeping the profile picture consistent across all of your social media platforms. You will be sending followers to links outside of twitter be it your blog, LinkedIn, foursquare, Instagram, Facebook, Google+ and more. Using the same profile picture lets your readers know they have arrived at the appropriate destination. Consider it part of your branding. Your profile picture can be your picture or your logo.

What themes stand out to you from the tips above? Anything you’d add? What type of information do you think real estate pros should include in their profile description? What’s your Twitter handle?

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